John Bonham's brother Mick recalls this night in his book 'My Brother John':

"Come May 23rd, Jacko (father), Debbie (sister) and myself, along with a good friend of mine set off to see for ourselves how the band had progressed since we had last seen them at Trentham Gardens. As soon as the band walked onstage, to rapturous applause, we were in awe at the whole bloody size of it. Showco had shipped in the PA system and light show that was used on their American tour and above the stage a huge video screen showing close up views of the band as they went about their business. For three and a half hours, we were treated to rock music from a band that you just know were glad to be home. Every enthusiastic move by the band was highlighted in a show that was second to none. Laser beams fired above the heads of the audience gave the effect of flaming arrows when they reflected off a mirror ball, filling the vast hall with snowflakes and stars..."

John Bonham's brother Mick recalls this night in his book 'My Brother John': "Come May 23rd, Jacko (father), Debbie (sister) and myself, along with a good friend of mine set off to see for ourselves how the band had progressed since we had last seen them at Trentham Gardens. As soon as the band walked onstage, to rapturous applause, we were in awe at the whole bloody size of it. Showco had shipped in the PA system and light show that was used on their American tour and above the stage a huge video screen showing close up views of the band as they went about their business. For three and a half hours, we were treated to rock music from a band that you just know were glad to be home. Every enthusiastic move by the band was highlighted in a show that was second to none. Laser beams fired above the heads of the audience gave the effect of flaming arrows when they reflected off a mirror ball, filling the vast hall with snowflakes and stars..."

Press Review: 5-23-75: Led Zeppelin were due to begin their Friday concert at 8pm. To anyone familiar with the habits of rock superstars, this could be interpreted as a laggardly and reluctant 9:30. I myself entered the precincts of Earls Court at three minutes to eight, just as a thunder began in the arena and hundreds of people from every direction dashed towards it as if they were missing a train.

Those acquainted with the writings of Mr. Tony palmer will be conscious today already that Led Zeppelin are the greatest band in the world, if not the entire solar system. With Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and a few others they share the massive emotional legacy from the years of acid and heavy rock. Where they diverge from their contemporaries – and indeed, from Mr Palmer – is in their uncharacteristic modesty; a diffident asceticism which only goads their millions of admirers to infatuation even more extravagant.

In a concert lasting three hours, that modesty was demonstrated in strange contrasts with the richness of Zeppelin’s material resources. Their playing was transmitted from a colour videotape screen suspended from the roof, while far to the front, an occasional spasm of Robert Plant’s flying hair or Jimmy Page’s hair communing with his guitar, or the tinsel of the drums, revealed the edited illusion to be based on continuous events. Beams of coloured light through the upper darkness swept and changed to a mysterious formula, while the darkness below seethed with stumbling figures still unable to credit that it had begun.

There can no longer be any doubt of Zeppelin’s colossal virtuosity. The sound system after its initial chaos, assumed an absolute balance in with the voice of Plant and the guitar of Page portrayed the best, as well as primordially the worst of heavy electric music. There was smoke and artificial lighting, and three laser beams upon a squeaking and screeching uproar, like a colony of bats. There was gentle country guitar-picking, sitting on chairs. There was No Quarter, which is of concerto length; there was Tangerine, which is so airily brief. Dinosaurs coexisted somehow with madrigals in that one large vessel of noise.

What is impressive above all about Led Zeppelin is their lack of conceit; the inner concord, that one sees in their existence. Robert Plant drinks tea on stage. Plant, when he spoke over that remarkable sound system, was the only rock singer to whose words I have ever paid the smallest attention. [P. Norman / Times / 5-75]

Setlists:

Rock and Roll, Sick Again, Over the Hills and Far Away, In My Time of Dying, The Song Remains the Same, Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter, Tangerine, Going to California, That's the Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Trampled Underfoot, Moby Dick, Dazed and Confused (incl. San Francisco), Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog.

Comments

Yes I am offically out of School just a few weeks from joining the U.S. Navy as Dad said they will make a Man out of you .He was so happy that I had took the asfab test and agreed to join the Navy He paid for most of My trip. Me and Woody began the party process as soon as we arrived .We only stayed a week .However it was one heck of a week.Woody had a good friend who he met at the Warehouse in New Orleans He was a proffesional Roadie and had been in the city quite a few times and usually stayed with him and His Girlfriend a verry friendly Girl pretty and sweet to. Anyway this was were We stayed and also were our tickets came from .At the time I did not know that Zep would be playing but after the second Day of touring the City He broke down and told Me well We got there on Tuesday now its Thursday and the first show was Friday 23 May 75 . I was freakin could not contain the excitement. I was in England and going to see Led Zeppelin at Earls Court My God it still does not sink in. This Show Rocked it was a better performance than any since New Orleans 73 . My highpoints were to many to name hell the Acoutic set was Awesome and it is always my lowpoint.As per Siskel and Ebert I give it two thumbs up. 5 star performance oh yes I did not know they had us tickets for the next nights show .They told Me at Breakfast the next Morning.

An excellent show ... "Good evening! Welcome to the show. Afer an absence of something like two years, I guess we're all ready for a little Physical Graffiti. Please welcome to Earl's Court ... Led Zeppelin! DJ David Jensen introduced the band in the great style Robert's voice is in strong shape (by 1975 standards) and the band rocks! "Last weekend we did a couple of warm-up gigs for these three. We believe these were the first three gigs to be sold out, so these must be the ones with the most energy stored up. You've been waiting!" Plant stated. Kashmir is thunderous and No Quarter contains some truly excellent improvisation from all three instrumentalists. The acoustic section is wonderful and Dazed And Confused and Stairway To Heaven are excellent version, though both will be bested the following night. The Whole Lotta Love encore has a really long jam leading into Black Dog, with the rhythm section cooking ferociously while Robert screams and ad-libs.

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